Record-breaking surge in tourism reinforces Los Angeles' host city credentials

45.5 million visitors from around the world came to Los Angeles in 2015

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The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board this week announced that the city welcomed 45.5 million visitors in 2015 – a fifth consecutive year of record-breaking growth and an increase of 1.3 million from the previous year. The leaders of Los Angeles 2024 today applauded these figures as a reinforcement of Los Angeles’ suitability to host the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This continuing momentum in tourism reflects a period of booming growth in infrastructure across Los Angeles, including an $8.5 billion modernization program at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), an additional 25 hotels being built by 2017 and $88 billion being invested in mass transit which will make moving through the city and region faster and easier than ever before. The transportation and infrastructure upgrades already underway in the city will form the foundations of LA 2024’s sustainable Games Plan.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: "Los Angeles is a place where the world comes together for cultural experiences and celebrated attractions that cannot be found anywhere else. Our city keeps setting records in the tourism sector because we are investing billions at our airport, in mass transit, and other assets that are making LA more exciting and accessible than ever. This will be hugely beneficial to our Olympic and Paralympic candidature. The sky’s the limit."

Overall, Los Angeles welcomed 6.7 million international visitors in 2015 with a notable increase from China and South Korea. LAX was also confirmed as the world’s busiest origin and destination airport in 2015 (U.S. Global Investors).

The growth in tourism was propelled by milestone accomplishments in 2015, including the success of the Special Olympics World Games, the opening of the Broad Museum and the reopening of the Petersen Automotive Museum. And this dramatic rise in the number of tourists means that the city is well on track to reach Mayor Garcetti’s goal of 50 million annual visitors by 2020.

Commenting on the rise in tourism, LA 2024 Chairman Casey Wasserman said: "The continued increase in the number of visitors to Los Angeles highlights the city as a global destination with a great diversity of attractions, experiences and cultures. Los Angeles can take full advantage of our many tourist attractions including our beaches, National Parks, Hollywood, Disneyland and plethora of museums, theaters, galleries and restaurants. And most importantly, our thriving tourism industry demonstrates that we have the necessary infrastructure to comfortably accommodate the world’s greatest sports event – the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

President & CEO of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board Ernest Wooden Jr. said, "We want to recognize and congratulate our hospitality community for their passion and dedication which has allowed us to celebrate our fifth consecutive year of record-breaking visitation. It’s these individuals and businesses that make Los Angeles such a dynamic destination that 45.5 million people traveled to experience it in 2015. These figures help propel us to our goal of welcoming 50 million visitors by 2020."

For more information visit LA24.org.

LA 2024 can also be found on the following social media channels:

Twitter.com/LA2024

Facebook.com/LA2024

Instagram.com/LA2024

YouTube.com/LA2024

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